Music and reading stand and book-support



(ModeL) I W. RIOKARDS,

MUSIC AND READING STAND AND BOOK SUPPORT. No.26? 592. Patented Nov-I14, 1882.

NHE STATES XVILLIAM RIGKARDS, OF FRANKLIN, PENNSYLVANIA.

MUSIC AND READING STAND AND BOOK-SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 267,592, dated November 14, 1882,

Application filed April 3, 1882.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WM. RtoKARDs, of Franklin, in the county of Venango and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Music and Reading Stands and Book-Supports of all Kinds; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in music and reading stands and book-supports of all kinds; and it consists, first, in the combination of the stand or pedestal, standard, jointed arm, having a slit screw-socket formed in its inner end, the casting secured to the under side of the table, and the expamling-screw, whereby the table is held at any desired angle; second, in the combination, with the supporting-table, of double cams and spring-wires, holding-clips, or devices whereby, when the clips are raised upward, the cams serve to open their ends outward, so that they can be held in any desired position by frictional contact against the cam alone; third, in the combination, with the standard, of a swiveled joint, which is secured to its outer end, and upon the outer end of which arm the table is secured by means of a suitable casting, which is made convex at its center, and provided with a shoulder uponeach side of the convex portion, the inner end of the swiveled jointed arm having a groove or concavity made in its inner end, into which the casting secured to the under side of the table can he made to catch, thereby formin g a horizontal pivoted table, all of which will be more fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to provide a light, portable stand, which may be used for supporting music, books, or other things of the same nature while in use, or which may be converted into a revolving table at the will of the operator, and which stand is provided with clips or devices for holding whatever object is placed upon the stand in position.

Figure 1 is a plan view of my invention, showing table adjusted into a vertical position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my inven-' tion, showing the table adjusted at an angle.

tModel.)

Fig. 3 is an end view showing the table adjusted into a horizontal position. Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 are detail views.

A- represents a suitable stand or pedestal, of any desired shape, size, or construction, and which maybe either made in two parts, as here shown, or in a single part, as may be desired. This pedestal is made hollow, so as to receive the'vertically-adjustable standard '13, which supports the table, and which can be held in any desired position by means of a set-screw. Swiveled upon the upper end of this standard is thejointed arm E, the outer end of which is made hollow, so as to receive the taperingscrew F, aud which is slotted or divided into a number of parts, so that its end can be expanded sufficiently by the screw to make it tit its socket in the casting G, which is secured to the under side ofthe table H, so as to hold the table at any angle at which it may be adjusted. This hollow slotted end passes through the casting G, and the set-screw is then passed into the hollow end. This hollow end forms a double cone with the small ends together, filling the double conic cylinder or opening thatis made through the casting. The wedging process is caused by the expansion of the shalt by the thumb-screw, which causes an expansion of the end of the arm, so as to till the opening which is'made through the casting. \Vhen it is desired to adjust it at anyangle, the set-screw is loosened, so as to allow the end of the arm to contract, and as soon as the table is adjusted into the required position the set-screw is again tightened and the end of the arm expanded in the casting G, so as to hold the table by frictional contact alone. By means of the jointed arm the table can be swung around in any desired relation to the standard at the will of the operator, so as to adjust it into the most desirable position without having to move the pedestal.

In thetop of the inner end of the arm is made a suitable groove or recess, I, into which the convex portion J of the casting G can be made to catch. Upon each side of this convex portion J are formed the shoulders L, which catch upon the flat portions of the arm upon each side of the recess or groove I, and thus support the table solidly in a horizontal position. In adjusting the table in a horizontal position, as shown, it is only necessary to loosen the ICO set-screw F, so that the table can be turned into a horizontal position, and then the outer opposite part of the swiveled arm is raised upward just sufficiently to allow the casting G to catch over the inner end of the swiveled arm when the convex portion J of the casting G will catch. in the recess I. In this position a horizontal table is formed, which may be used for writing upon or for any other purpose that may be desired.

Secured to each end of the table are the double cams M, which have holes through their centers for the ends of the spring-wire clips 0 to catch in. These cams are placed in pairs just opposite each other, and the cams are made to extend in a line with the edge of the board. The clips are spring-wire frames, bent at right angles, of the necessary length to press against the table at each end, and a second bend is made at each end in toward the end of the table, and this second bend formsjournals to fit in the holes in the centers of the double cams, and at a suitabie distance from the first bend to allow the clip to reach over a thick book. The body or long part of the wire is bent circular, forming the segment of a circle, which throws the end some distance inside the ends of the table and double cams, so that when the clips are spread out and the journals sprung into the holes in the cams the body of the wire is straightened. When the clips are lying pressed against the surface of the board the clips are held in the groove which is made between the cams or curved surfaces, and but little pressure is exerted upon the clips. If, however, the clips are raised outward, the curved surfaces or cams serve to press the ends of the clip outward away from each other, and thus hold them by frictional contact in that position, so as to give the operator a chance of adjusting the book or paper in any position he sees fit. The moment the clip is pushed past the center of the rounding surface of the cam its elasticity causes it to move down the inclines, either toward the table or outward from it. By having the cams arranged as here shown, and the spring-clips or holding devices attached to them, the clips are made automatic in their movements and can be turned backward against the rear portion of the table, so

as to be entirely out of the way, can be adjusted directly in line with the edges of the table, or can be made to close against the front of the table, for the purpose of holding devices of any kind in position.

Pivoted, hinged, or otherwise attached to the edge of the table is the flat strip P, which can be turned outward, so as to form a flange or stop along that edge of the table for the purpose of preventing things placed upon the table from falling oli'. The edges of the table are rabbeted, so that when these strips are closed inward they will be flush with the surface of the table.

Also swiveled upon the top of the standard, just below the arm E, is a second jointed arm, Q, through the outer end of which passes a support, upon which may be placed a lamp or any other suitable object for the convenience of the reader or musician. The rod which passes up through this arm can be adjusted vertically and held in any desired position by means of a setscrew.

Having thus described my invention, I elaim-- 1. The combination of the stand or pedestal A, standard l5,joihted arm E, having a slit screw-socket formed in its outer end, the casting G,-and the expanding-screw F, substantially as shown.

2. Thecombination,in a stand, of the pivoted swiveled arm having a recess formed in the top of its inner end, with the casting which is secured to the under side of the table, which casting is made to fit in the recess in the arm and support the table in a horizontal position, substantially as set forth.

The combination of the table with the double cams and the spring-clips, substantially as speci tied.

i. The wire clips having a circular bend at their centers and having the double bends at their ends, in combination with the double cams, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

\VILLIAH RIOKARDS.

XVitnesses:

I). W. EonoLs, Gums'rorlmn. W. SMITH. 

